Sanitary drinking-fountain.



1). P. BBGKWITH. v SANITARY DRINKING FOUNTAIN. APPLICATION FILED OUT. 16, 1913.

Patented Oct. 13, 1914.

--III II I/ WHY no 70 44/17 (QB/A glwuenkn- DEAN P. BECKWITH, or nLMmAnEIGHTs, nEw'YonK.

SANITARY DRINKING-FOUNTAIN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 13, 1914.

Application filed October 16, 1913. Serial No. 795,540.

To all whom it may concern. Y

Be it known that I, DEAN P. BECKWITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Elmira Heights, in the p State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sanitary Drinking-Fountains; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in drinking fountains, and particularly to the vertically discharging type known as ,sanitary drinking fountains.

The principal object of the present invention is to which the drinker is prevented from bringing his mouth into contact with the discharge nozzle. I

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this character in which the flow of water from the nozzle can be quickly and conveniently regulated.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a drinking fountain made in accordance with my invention, Fig. 2 is a top plan view, Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the same, Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view on the line 44 of Fig. 2.

In some of the ordinary sanitary drinking fountains which are provided with upwardly discharging nozzles, the water flows therefrom constantly, thus causing an outlet. waste of water, but having the advantage that the user cannot touch the nozzle with his mouth. In other forms the user controls the supply of water, but can place his mouth on the nozzle and then turn on the water. This causes a contamination of the nozzle which results in the spreading of diseases.

By means of my invention it is inconvenient for the drinker to place his mouth against tlze nozzle as the same is covered until the flow of water is started.

Referring particularly to the accompanying drawing, 10 represents a casing includinga base flange 11, and adjacent enlarged portion 12 which is formed with a vertical tapering bore side of this enlarged portion is an outwardly extending stem or spout 14 which has its county of Chemung,

provide a drinking fountain in 13 therethrough. On the Other bore.

7 of the outer end of the arm extremity turned upwardly as indicated at 15. Extending through the casing from the flange 11 through the end of the. nozzle 15 is a bore 16, the portion within the flange 11 being provided with threads 17 for engagement with a threaded nipple of a water pipe (not shown). Disposed in the tapering bore 13 is a rotary plug. valve 18 which is formed with a transverse passage 19 arranged to'be brought into register with the Formed vertically through the plug valve and through the upper end of the transverse. passage 19 is a threaded opening or passage 20 this passage having disposed therein a screw 21. This screw IS long 19 to change the size of said passage for increasing or decreasing the, flow of water through the device. The lower end of the plug valve extends through the bottom of the casing, and is provided with a reduced threaded stem 22 to receive thereon a washer 23 and nut 24. A look nut 25 is dis posed on the upper end of the screw 21 and bears against the upper side of the ball head 26 of the plug valve,

Formed integrally with the ball head 26 and extending toward the nozzle 15 is an arm 27 which forms the handle by means of which the plug valve is turned. The outer end of the handle 27 is provided with a downturned portion 28 which is arranged to engage with one side of the nozzle and act as a stop for the valve when in closed position. Extending outwardly from the member 28, in a. direction away from the nozzle is a thumb piece 29 which is arranged to be grasped to turn the valve. On one side or handle'27 is formed a laterally extending and rearwardly curved arm 30 this arm being formed. with the plug valve 18 as the'center of the arc of its outline.

In the operation of the device the valve closed to prevent the outflow of water, when the parts are in the position shown in the drawings. It will of course be understood that to regulate the speed of flow-of water'through the passage 19, the screw 21 should be moved upwardly or downwardly enough to be moved down into the passage arm 30 is of such length that it covers the end of the nozzle until the valve is fully opened, so that there is a full flow of water as soon. as the nozzle is uncovered. The passage 19 does not fully'register with the passage 16 until the free end of the arm 30 has cleared the discharge end of the nozzle. Thus the drinker cannot place his mouth on the nozzle and then turn on the water, as is the case with a number of devices of this character noW in use. In the present device the nozzle is completely protected until the valve is opened and the water. issues from the nozzle. The drinker then places his mouth at the upper end of the stream of water issuing from the nozzle, as it would be rather uncomfortable to place the mouth in contact with the nozzle.

From the foregoing, it will thus be seen that I have provided a sanitary drinking fountain which is simple in construction, operation and of few parts, and one in which the discharge nozzle is effectively prevented from contamination by contact with the mouth'of the drinken It will also be noted that this device prevents the unnecessary waste of water which usually occurs in the ordinary sanitary fountain, by reason of the fact that the water is turned off after use, instead of having a continuous flow of water.

\Yhat is claimed is:

1. In a sanitary drinking fountain, a valve casing, a valve in the casing, a discharge nozzle carried by the casing, means for opening and closing the valve, and means carried by the opening and closing means for covering the discharge nozzle until the valve is completely opened.

2. In a sanitary drinking fountain, a valve casing, a rotary valve in the casing, an upwardly directed discharge nozzle forming a part of the casing, a handle for rotating the valve, and means carried by the handle for covering the discharge nozzle until the valve is completely opened.

3. In a sanitary drinking fountain, a valve casing having an upwardly turned discharge nozzle, a rotary valve in the casing, means for varying the size of the opening of the valve, means for rotating the valve, and means for covering the nozzle until the valve is fully opened.

4. In a sanitary drinking fountain, a valve casing, a rotary valve in the casing, means carried by the valve for varying the size of the passage therethrough, an upturned discharge nozzle carried by the casing, a handle carried by the valve, a stop lug carried by the handle for engagement with the nozzle, and a horizontally extending arcuate finger arranged to pass over and cover the mouth of the discharge nozzle during the period of opening of the valve and until the valve is completely opened.

5. In a sanitary drinking fountain, a valve casing, a rotary valve in the casing, a discharge nozzle carried by the casing, a handle carried by the valve, a stop lug carried by the handle for engagement with the nozzle,

and a horizontally extending arcuate finger arranged to pass over the mouth of the discharge nozzle during the period of opening of the valve and until the valve is completely opened.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature, in the presence of two witnesses.

DEAN P. BECKWITH.

Witnesses ARTHUR B. MUNsoN, CARL J. TABER. 

